Fish Tank: Katie Jarvis interview

Eighteen-year-old Katie Jarvis might sound like the stereotypical Essex girl. She was having a public argument with her boyfriend when a strange woman asked whether she'd like to be in a film. That project was Fish Tank, the latest venture by director Andrea Arnold (who won a BAFTA for her 2006 debut Red Road). The story centres on a feisty young Essex girl whose life is dramatically altered by the arrival of her mother's new boyfriend (played by Hunger star Michael Fassbender). But as it turned out, Jarvis was a shy young girl who took a while to be convinced of her suitability for the role.

Jarvis talks to BBC Film Network about her initial concerns and how Arnold eventually coaxed her out of her shell.

This is a stunning debut, especially considering you hadn't acted before. How did Andrea Arnold find you?

I was just on Tilbury train station in the area that I used to live in; me and my boyfriend were on opposite platforms having an argument at the time. I jumped on the train afterwards, got off at Upminster and then a talent scout called Lucy came running up to me and said she was looking for someone to play the main part in this film. She told me everything about Andrea, that she'd won an Oscar and stuff, and said that she'd seen me having the argument on the train station and wanted me to come to an audition. I didn't believe it at the time. I thought it was a bit unreal so when she asked me for my phone number, I said no, but I took hers. About three weeks later I gave her a call back to find out more and went to an audition.

What was that process like?

Yeah, it was still a little bit mad for me because even at that point, I didn't believe it was anything that big. I was a little bit naïve I think, but as things went along I started thinking, 'Wow. This is for real.' And the more it went on, the more I was enjoying it. But everyone was really lovely and really supportive, because I was really nervous and quite shy.

Andrea said she was looking for someone who could give her 'a hard time for real.' Did you get to the point where you felt you could speak your mind with her?

Yeah, I think because Andrea is such an easy person to get along with, that made it easier for me. Doing Fish Tankk with her actually helped me to really boost my confidence. Before that I used to hate having my picture taken and I was just really camera shy. Andrea is such a great director because she is so laidback and really, really nice. If I was really worried, or nervous about something, she would do everything she could to make me feel better.

Kierston Wareing as Mia's unnamed mother.

There are very intense scenes in the film. So how did she put you at ease? [Please note: Kate's next answer contains spoilers for the film]

Well, before I even signed the contract to do Fish Tank Andrea made me aware of the sex scene with Michael Fassbender, but she told me that it wasn't anything too intense and too in-depth and that we would be fully clothed, which is why I agreed to do it. But when it actually came to it, I was really, really nervous. I can't remember what was going through my mind at the time, but I think what helped me get through it was that Andrea and Michael sort of turned it into a joke. A laugh. So, instead of something that would make me feel even more nervous, it became something which was quite funny, you know what I mean? At the time I also thought it must be a little weird for Michael because he's an older man and I was only 17-years-old so I thought he must have felt as uncomfortable as what I did. Me and Michael got on great though, so that took the tension down as well.

Michael must have had a lot of advice for you, especially because Andrea has this freewheeling approach to work…

Yeah, he was really lovely, the same as Kierston Wareing [playing the mother]. If they thought that I needed a bit of advice then they'd tell me, but Andrea let us do a lot of role playing as well and if she thought a scene needed a bit of work, or if she wanted it a bit different, then she would tell us. She wanted everything to be real though and come from us naturally rather than just telling us how to do it. Andrea was so supportive though. I've met a couple of directors since doing Fish Tank and Andrea is definitely my favourite.

You had to do a lot of dancing as well, but you've never done that professionally, so was that tough to deal with?

Yeah, I was really nervous about that as well. The first week or two Andrea just had me and the cameraman in the room while I was having to do the dancing because I was a bit nervous of everyone watching me and I thought they might put me off. That's another way she tried making me feel comfortable, at first, by not having anyone else around. Obviously on a film set there's always a lot of people, but I… I really don't know what it was, but when we actually started filming Fish Tank, I just told myself, 'That's it, I've signed the contract. I've just got to get on with it.' I put my head down and just did it. And I loved it, I really did.

Was there anything that surprised you about the process of filmmaking?

Yeah, the first week I realised it's not as glamorous as it looks on the TV! You just see the 'after' when they're at the premiere when everyone's looking great and everything, but even though it was hard work, it's paid off. I'm really glad with the results.

It was shot in just six weeks. Was that enough time to get your head around it?

Whilst we were shooting, no. It didn't really kick in what was gong on, but I just got on with it because I clicked really well with everyone and I think that really helps when everyone gets on with each other and you just want to get on with it and do a good job. I think it all really hit me when I, myself, was walking down the red carpet for the first time, because I never imagined I'd be doing that, so that was really something I'll never forget.

Kate's co-star Michael Fassbender as Connor.

Teens are often portrayed in a patronising way on screen, especially 'working class' kids. But Fish Tank feels different. Were you wary at first though?

I think all teenagers are different. This film was shot in Essex which everyone knows has got this bad reputation, but I really do think there are certain areas of Essex that are really nice. And, like everywhere, there might be some kids who act like the media are portraying them to be, but there are others who are completely different and that's what you see in this film. Like myself, I feel like I can relate to Mia's character, but at the same time, my life is nothing like hers, you know what I mean? All teenagers are different and they're not all bad, like hoodies just wanting to go out and make trouble. Before this I wasn't doing nothing, I was just looking to go to college. I had this fight with my boyfriend on the train station, but I wasn't a troublemaker always out looking for a fight, you know what I mean?

Do you feel like this film really captures the Essex vibe?

The film captures the vibe of the estate, the Mardyke, where it was actually shot, but not where I actually grew up. I grew up in Essex, but not in Rainham. It did capture that area though because you can see it in Mia, in her personality. Even though she's not a bad person, she's growing up in this bad area and there are bad people around her and that affects her behaviour. It's all different though, wherever you go in Essex. We're not all the same!

How would you persuade young people, like yourself, to go and see a film like this in which no robots come to life and no buildings get blown up? No pressure!

I would say that, personally, it's worth seeing because it is about real life. Everyone knows what it's like to have these ups and downs and rows with their family and friends and all these problems going on, so I think if you like to watch real-life and real-life stories, then that's what Fish Tank is all about. It's not fictional, it's 'today', you know what I mean?

Interview conducted by Stella Papamichael